MINING AT THAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 49, 27 February 1934, Page 7

MINING AT THAMES

GOVERNMENT'S OFFEft

TESTING LOW-GRADE ORES

An important conference on mining at Thames was held at ■ Thames last week between the Minister of Mines (the, Hon. C. E.. Macmillan), the. Borough Commissioner (Mr. C. L. Grange), the Mayor (Mr! S. Ensor), the Thames Prospecting Association, and representatives of Kuranui Golden Hills, Limited, states the Thames correspondent of the "New Zealand Herald." The Under-Secretary of Mines (Mr. A. Tyhdall) and Mr. <A. M. Samuel, M.P.y were also present. Mr. Grange, who is also chairman of the Thames Prospecting Association, presided. : The Minister intimated that his Department would take over the Kuranui plant and \ work it to test thoroughly the ground. Mr. Grange said Kuranui. Golden, Hills, Limited, had been fortunate .in enjoying the Department's good will, but, in spite of this and the large sums spent, the test of the hill was not completed, and all who-had watched the experiment were very disappointed that the plant had to be closed. The Prospecting Association .urged that the project was sound mining, and the directors of the company had spent about & 8000 of their own money to endeavour to prove the ground; JMr. Grange understood that the icompany ; . would be pleased to come to some arrangement for the Department to carry, on the work. Success would open up vast possibilities for the whole "goldfields area should it be proved that low-grade ores could be worked, at a profit. The Prospecting 'Association had a claim of 61 acres, and it asked for help in treating it. - ' The commissioner suggested that ; this could be worked in. conjunction with, the Kuranui Hill." The association had certain funds, and if the testing of the two areas was carried out simultaneously the association would provide1. £250 towards the cost of the work. The association had already given £.100 to. help the Kuranui company. If the ores proved to be payable the Government would be reimbursed from the proceeds. *'. SALVATION OF GOLDFIELDS. The Mayor said everyone considered ■'.' that the successful mining of low-grade ore would be the salvation.of the gold--fields. The hills in the past had been treated with crude methods. The Kviranui'venture was a genuine effort, and all possible assistance had been, given it by the borough. . The Government had; given a certain amount of electrical power, and the borough had carried power free and given free water.: • The council was willing to assist to a similar "degree in the future. It was:felt that the Government should; stand bohind the Prospecting Association,'continued Mr. Ensbr. Government investments ,in , Thames. exceeded £250,000, and if, anything could- be' done to- increase the population, it would place these investments in a, sounder position. s : ! The Minister; said no one was more anxious than he was to see the industry revived. The public should . appreciate that the Kuranui was not a company which had endeavoured to exploit them. He was sorry to hear the company had come to the • end; of its resources, and was unable to;'prove its ground. ■ : . " MINISTER'S OFFER. .. It was a pity that some means could not be found to treat'gold-bearing ores cheaply. ' Mr. Macmillan said he" had the. co-operation of the Unemployment Board, which was enthusiastic•' in. iU desire to 'help the scheme. It wfls suggested that further testing should be done by the Mines Department itself. He did not know if tßis was a new departure in policy to work for private holders; but. he was not afraid of establishing a precedent. The question came down to one of ways and means, and he hoped they, would arrive at some workable scheme. The Mines Department was-endeavouring to help the industry in general. If the department found payable low grade ore in Thames it did.not, care from whose property it came. He would like to know what the project would cost..' ;: . ! Mr. B. Aitken, chairman of the Kuranui Golden Hills Company, '.said the company had come to the- end of its resources. It had a \ plant capable.of treating 200 tons daily and would hand over the plant to anybody who would continue it and test the area. They believed in the proposition. Mr. Aitken outlined the company's operations, expenditure, and. returns. , ■;, ' LIMIT OF £2000 CASH FIXED. ' Opinions regarding methods of testing Kuranui Hill were given by Mr. E. F. sAdams, mining engineer, and Mr. J. Downey, inspector of mines. The Minister said some limit should be put to what Thames expected. He. did not want a resolution on general. terms. The meeting was very representative and if a limit of £2000 cbuld be put on the proposal it was then for him to find out if he could obtain his quota of it. He was prepared to go a little further than was suggested. Finally, the following resolution, moved by Mr. ..(VS. Donovan and seconded by Mr. E. M. Aitken, was carried unanimously:-— ■ "In view of the fact that the Kuranui Golden Hills Company has offered the use of its complete plant, the Unemployment Board's willingness to assist, the Thames Prospecting Association's offer of £250, and the Thames Borough Council's promise of free .water nnd free transmission of electricity over its lines, the Minister of Mines be asked if the Mines Department will undertake the conclusive testing of the two areas (Kuranui and Waiotahi), the method of testing to be determined by the Mines Department, it being understood that the total cost of this tentative scheme shall not ex* ceed £2000 in cash." Mr. Grange and Mr. Samuel thanked the Minister for his generous offer.